University - The Daily Tar Heel

The Duke University Chapel on Duke’s West Campus, as photographed in 2017, serves as a symbol of the university.

Duke saw a major spike in COVID-19 cases. Could the same happen at UNC?

By Kennedy Rushing | Mar. 21

Following a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases at neighboring Duke University, UNC officials continue to encourage students to keep following all safety precautions.

DTH Photo Illustration. The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Governors announced last month that they will add mental health and suicide prevention services to the campus security fees.

BOG resolution allocates potential funding for crisis management

By Hannah Rosenberger | Mar. 18

UNC System schools may choose to spend this extra funding on student mental health support and crisis response services, but universities can use the money as they deem appropriate.

Jay Smith, the vice president of the UNC-Chapel Hill chapter of the American Association of University Professors, poses for a virtual portrait on March 18, 2021. Smith says the Program for Public Discourse "represented an ideological incursion into the life of the campus and, potentially, into the curriculum." Supporters of the program, like Director Sarah Truel Roberts, say that the program highlights "the fact that people who adhere to different ideologies may also have areas of mutual agreement."

Despite controversial origins, Program for Public Discourse aims to foster debate

By Emma Lindsey | Mar. 18

The UNC Program for Public Discourse received an $8 million donation from UNC alumna Nancy Abbey and her husband, Doug Abbey, to fund a new speaker series, aiming to promote democracy and constructive public discourse. However, due to past accusations of an ideological bent and lacking transparency within the program, students and faculty remain wary.

Junior Kobe Spells sits outside the Union doing coursework on March 18, 2021.

Editorial: Don't limit your wellness to wellness days

By Editorial Board | Mar. 18

"You deserve to be well, even when it’s not a wellness day."

Co-Founder and Co-Director of Climate Interactive Andrew Jones poses for a FaceTime portrait on March 18, 2021. Jones is also an adjunct professor for the Kenan-Flagler School of Business.

Kenan-Flagler professor hosts simulation workshop on the realities of climate change

By Kaitlyn Dang | Mar. 18

The North Carolina chapters of Citizens’ Climate Lobby hosted a simulation workshop on March 17 to teach community volunteers and members about solutions to climate change.

A Student Walks into the Student Union on Oct. 1, 2020. Starting Nov. 5, 2020, Student Organizations Can Start Reserving Space in Carolina Union for Their Use in the Spring Semester.

Campus vaccine clinic to open next Wednesday with Johnson & Johnson doses

By Maddie Ellis | Mar. 18

UNC will open a vaccination clinic in the Student Union in the former Wendy's restaurant location, the University announced in a campus email Thursday.

DTH Photo Illustration. There has been a long standing debate of which music streaming platform is the best: Spotify or Apple Music. Students tell us the pros and cons of each service and which they like best.

Tar Heel Social compiles playlists for new UNC Spotify account

By Caroline Yaffa | Mar. 17

The playlists each cover a certain vibe or mood specific to UNC student life, Campbell said. Examples include “POV: You’re on a Wellness Day” or “Crossing the Quad.”

Chair Darrell Allison at a previous meeting at the UNC Center for School Leadership Development on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019.

Amid controversy, Darrell Allison starts as chancellor of Fayetteville State University

By Rachel Crumpler | Mar. 17

A former UNC Board of Governors member is facing accusations about his qualifications and how he was hired.

Heidi Kim, an associate English professor and director of the UNC Asian American Center, poses for a portrait on Monday, Mar. 8, 2021. "I've lived through multiple waves of anti-Asian American violence," says Kim. "You start to realize there's an underlying racism that's always there."

UNC community issues statements of support in wake of violence against Asian Americans

By Maddie Ellis | Mar. 17

Heidi Kim, director of the Asian American Center, said in a statement that the AAC is a resource for students. "The Asian American Center is here for you, because our community stands together," Kim said in the statement.

UNC Alumni Hall on March 5, 2021. Students recount their initial reactions to the country shutting down due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

UNC increases number of health greeter kiosks around campus to encourage mask-wearing

By Elena Tsai | Mar. 17

The kiosks use artificial intelligence and computer vision to detect if people are wearing masks or if they are social-distancing. Kiosks are now deployed at select locations on campus — including Carroll Hall and the McColl building.

The Pit Spit in 2018, where EROT introduces the year’s newest members in a group piece. Photo courtesy of Jazmine Bunch.

Virtual slam poetry event is a sanctuary for artists of color

By Lucy Smithwick | Mar. 16

“Slam poetry is often a weapon of liberation,” Emily Goes said. “I wanted to harness the power of the words at the intersection of poetry and performance, but rooted in the spirit of thriving, so we can say that we've claimed our liberation.”

The University Office for Diversity and Inclusion, currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 16, 2021.

VITAE hiring program on pause due to University budgetary constraints

By Sasha Schroeder | Mar. 16

Blouin said the program, formerly known as the Target of Opportunity program, is on hold due to fiscal challenges that UNC is facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will eventually be reinstated, he said.

Senior African Studies and Political Science major Mina Yakubu is the president of OASIS. "It's been a community for me since the beginning of college," Yakubu said of the organization.

UNC OASIS wins 2020 National African Student Association chapter of the year

By Grace Battle Thompson | Mar. 16

OASIS was recognized for its "Culture Shock" event which celebrates and highlights African culture and diversity with over 50 virtual attendees.

Georgios Kostantinis, vice president of The First-Generation Student Association, poses for a portrait in front of the Old Well on Monday, Mar. 15, 2021.

Virtual ceremony will recognize first-generation college graduates

By Sabrina Ortiz | Mar. 16

The First-Generation Student Association will be holding a virtual graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of first-generation college graduates in May.

Dr. Larry Chavis, director of the UNC American Indian Center, poses for a portrait in Chapel Hill on Monday, Mar. 1, 2021. Chavis, who is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, notes the importance of belonging and of doing so "on your own terms."

'See that we exist': American Indian Center faces lack of University support

By Samuel Garzon | Mar. 16

Members of the American Indian Center share how a lack of financial support from the University has impacted the center's ability to fulfill its purpose on campus — supporting American Indian students at UNC.

UNC freshman Sara McClure poses for a portrait while studying on campus on Tuesday, Oct. 27th, 2020.

Editorial: Our declassified campus survival guide

By Editorial Board | Mar. 16

As the University plans to return to a “more typical” fall semester later this year, the Editorial Board wanted to impart some campus and Chapel Hill knowledge to our fellow students who haven’t been on campus or in the area before.

Screenshot from the Faculty Executive Committee meeting on Monday, March 15, 2021.

Faculty Executive Committee discusses Franklin Street rush, vaccine distribution

By Emma Lindsey | Mar. 15

Members of the Faculty Executive Committee met March 15 to discuss the distribution of vaccinations to the campus community and students rushing Franklin Street after the recent win against Duke Basketball.

Zachary Boyce, a first-year law student poses for a portrait in front of the Law School. Boyce had racist comments directed towards him by a fellow law student via zoom chat during class.

Racist incident during UNC law class raises questions about diversity and inclusion

By Natalie Johnson | Mar. 15

Following an incident during a Zoom class where one student was accused of making racist remarks toward a student of color, some UNC law students wrote a letter asking for the school's administration to condemn the words and actions of the student. The letter and an accompanying petition were presented to the administration and gathered over 360 signatures from current students, alumni and professors in the law school.

DTH Photo Illustration. The constant influx of news can be overwhelming, especially during a pandemic.

Students and faculty strive for balance between well-being and staying informed

By Anthony Howard | Mar. 15

“I think you need to understand that not being informed is not the worst thing, unless it is of primary importance to you to always be up on activist causes,” Anderson said. “If you want to still be activists, you could do something that helps like volunteer and feel like you’re doing something positive about the thing versus just consuming this onslaught of negative news.”

Dr. Chandra Ford, a gradutate of UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health. was honored by The Association for Black Women Physicians and received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

UNC alumna receives Association of Black Women Physicians lifetime achievement award

By Jennifer Tran | Mar. 15

Chandra Ford — a longtime researcher on racism in the public health field — has become "an independent scholar on her own right."